86 pastors and church leaders graduate after three-year training in Pader

12 October 2025, 06:11

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

A total of 86 pastors and church leaders from Nwoya and Pader districts graduated on Saturday, October 11, 2025, after successfully completing a three-year theological training program under the NET Foundation, aimed at equipping untrained ministers with biblical knowledge and practical leadership skills.

The colorful ceremony, held at Kworo Guesthouse and Cottages in Pader district, marked a major milestone in strengthening church leadership and promoting sound doctrine among Christian congregations in Northern Uganda.

According to Nattabi Cate, the NET Country Coordinator and Facilitator, the program was designed to empower pastors and leaders who had not received formal theological education.

“Many churches have turned into cults because their leaders lacked proper training,” she said. “Through this program, pastors have learned to handle the Word of God correctly, interpret the Bible faithfully, and preach messages that bring transformation.”

Over the past three years, the pastors completed ten courses, including Salvation and Christian Foundations, Old and New Testament Surveys, Church Leadership, Marriage and Family, and Church Planting.

The initiative, according to Nattabi, focuses on building healthy churches and encouraging mentorship, as “ministry cannot be done alone.”

The NET Foundation, which operates globally with its base in the Netherlands, offers its training to leaders across all denominations.

The guiding scripture for the program, Nattabi noted, is 2 Timothy 2:2, which emphasises entrusting the gospel to faithful people who can teach others.

Rev. Okumu Donato, the Deputy Regional Overseer for the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches in Pader and Agago district, was among the graduates.

He praised the training for its practical approach and lasting impact on church leaders.

“This training has transformed us,” he said. “It reminded us that ministry is not just about preaching but also about hard work, humility, and self-reliance. We must care for the needy, support widows and orphans, and raise children in the Word of God.”

Donato added that even as a theology graduates, the course deepened his understanding of servant leadership and reminded him of the importance of humility in ministry.

Another graduate, Katie Joy Amanyangole from Victory Outreach Church, described the experience as life-changing.

“We have learned God’s way of salvation, the call to ministry, and the importance of christian marriage and family,” she said. “Marriage is the foundation of society. When families are strong, the church and the community become strong.”

The NET Foundation covered nearly all the training costs, with participants only contributing to meals.

Nattabi revealed that more leaders have since requested similar programs in neighboring districts.

Plans are underway to open a new training center in Patongo, Agago district, to reach even more untrained pastors.

She encouraged church leaders to embrace continuous learning, noting, “A pastor who is not trained is like a doctor who is not trained he can cause great harm to the body of Christ.”

The event ended with prayers of commissioning led by Rt. Rev. Wilson Kitara, Anglican Bishop of Kitgum Diocese, as the newly trained pastors were sent out to serve their congregations and communities with renewed knowledge, humility, and passion for spreading the gospel.